Epistolae ad familiares

Lot 1
16.10.2025 00:00UTC +01:00
Classic
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1471924
Lot 1 | Epistolae ad familiares
Estimate value
$ 30 000 – 40 000
CICERO, Marcus Tullius (106–43 B.C). Epistolae ad familiares. Venice: Johannes de Spira, [before 18 September] 1469.

The second book printed at Venice; third edition of Cicero’s letters. Johannes de Spira moved from Germany to establish the first printing shop at Venice in 1469. He chose as his first book Cicero's Letters to Friends, which he printed in an edition of 100 copies. Four months later, he reprinted that work—the present edition—in 300 copies. The primacy in print accorded to Cicero's letters (Sweynheym and Pannartz had chosen the same text for the first book printed at Rome two years earlier) demonstrates the Renaissance reverence for eloquent Latin prose style as well as providing insights into Ancient Roman culture and politics. No copy of either edition has appeared at auction in over 70 years, and only two copies are recorded in the US. HC 5165; BMC V 153; Bod-inc C-257; CIBN C-341; GW 6801; Goff C-505; ISTC ic00505000.

Median folio (335 × 218mm). 131 leaves (of 136, without blank a1, lacking a2, 6, 7, 12 and o5 and with a duplicate of g3 in quire f). Illuminated initials on green, red and blue fields, alternating red and blue initials, pages ruled, three later painted initials (37 leaves inlaid, b4 inlaid in reverse, three initials cut out and replaced with matching contemporary illuminated initials, margins repaired in most leaves, occasional stains and soiling). Early 19th-century English straight-grain red morocco, single fillet boarder and three panels with interlaced lozenge on covers, gilt lettering and intricate tooled motif in spine compartments, edges gilt, vivid azure endpapers with floral border in blind (rubbed, scratches with some through to boards); red straight-grain morocco box, cloth chemise. Provenance: probably Sir Robert Palk, 1st Baronet (1717–1798; armorial bookplate) – Roderick Terry (1849–1933; bookplate; his sale, Anderson, New York, 2 May 1934, lot 50) – Howard Lehman Goodhart (1884-1952; label; gifted to his daughter:) – Phyllis Goodhart Gordan (1913-1994; leather label, autograph textual notes laid in); by descent.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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02.10.2025 – 16.10.2025
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